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Speaking of which, does anyone know of explosives that work in a vacuum at near absolute zero?
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M$1 Answer
Most explosives do not require oxygen to react, so the vacuum part should not be much of an issue. Liquid explosives (Nitroglycerin, etc) would evaporate if not contained but solids like guncotton or RDX would be unaffected.
Absolute zero is more of a crapshoot. There might be some mysterious interaction but I don't see anything in the chemistry which would prevent a detonation at 0K. Sensitivity to initiation might be affected which direction would depend on the chemistry. Innately explosive molecules like RDX and Fulminate of Mercury would be less affected than composite explosives like aluminum/oxidizer blends.
Absolute zero is more of a crapshoot. There might be some mysterious interaction but I don't see anything in the chemistry which would prevent a detonation at 0K. Sensitivity to initiation might be affected which direction would depend on the chemistry. Innately explosive molecules like RDX and Fulminate of Mercury would be less affected than composite explosives like aluminum/oxidizer blends.
source(s):
I'm a chemical engineer that worked for DoD making explosives for 30 years. -40 deg F was about the coldest we dealt with, however.
I'm a chemical engineer that worked for DoD making explosives for 30 years. -40 deg F was about the coldest we dealt with, however.
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M$
Thanks pwright02, somebody suggested hydrazine, does that sounds logical?
Hydrazine would have the evaporation problem and is typically used as a fuel (as in rockets) rather than an explosive. But if you hit it hard enough, it will react. What are you trying to accomplish here? If you are trying to shatter a wall (which will likely be pretty brittle at absolute 0), you want a high explosive. If you are trying to heave tons of rock, you want something less brisant.